Plants For a Purpose Part 1 of 2
PLANT LOCATION
Each and every garden consists of a mixture of different microenvironments. No two gardens offer exactly the same conditions, and this is one of the reasons why gardening is such an individual and exciting hobby. In the following section we suggest plants that will thrive in particular locations and some which will play particular roles in the ongoing drama being played out in your garden.
The soil is the starting point for successful gardening. For good reason do we use phrases such as the secret lies in the soil. Your soil type is fundamental in dictating what varieties of plants can be grown in the garden. Our advice to any gardener is to get a soil analysis performed on your garden at an early stage in your garden planning. Your local garden centre will advise you how to get a soil analysis ordered. Another useful guide to the plants that will do best in your garden is to simply look around at neighbours’ gardens and note what plants are growing well.
Plants for chalky soils
These soils tend to be found around the great chalk downs in the southern half of Britain. Characterised by being well drained, but with high pH, a particular set of plants has developed to make the most of the conditions. Our list of shrubs, trees and conifers will give excellent results on these soils.
TREES
- Acer campestre
- Cappadocicum forms
- Griseum
- Egundo forms
- Platanoides and forms
- Pseudoplatanus and forms
- Aesculus
- Gingko biloba
- Populus alba
- Betula
CLIMBERS
- Buddleja
- Ceanothus in variety
- Pyracantha
- Chaenomeles
- Chimonanthus
- Forsythia suspense
- Escallonia in variety
- Hedera
Plants for clay soils
Clay soils are common across Britain. They tend to be heavy to work, but are frequently rich in nutrients. Gardening on clay can be back breaking to begin with, but with the generous and frequent addition of garden compost and other organic matter, over the years these can be some of the most productive and rewarding soils. Very many garden plants will happily flourish on clay soils, having evolved root structures which are designed to cope with Britain’s most common soil type.
TREES
- Acer in variety
- Malus
- Alnus in variety
- Betula some varieties
- Prunus
- Corylus
- Crategus
- Sorbus
- Fraxinus
SHRUBS
- Aesculus
- Potentilla
- Berberis
- Chaenomeles
- Lusitanica
- Pyracantha
- Corylus
- Rubus
- Spiraea
- Hedera
- Kerria
- Weigela
CLIMBERS
- Chaenomeles
- Pyrancantha upright varieties
- Viburnum x burkwoodii
- Euonymus fortunei
- Forsythia suspense
- Conifers E
- Abies
- Taxus
- Crytomeria
- Taxodium
Plants for lime-free soils
These soils have a low pH and are frequently peaty in texture. Gardeners on lime free soils are usually envied by other less fortunate gardeners since they are able to grow a range of the most extravagantly showy plants we offer. Those magical words: Camellias, Rhododendron, Azalea and Ericas - all these plants are taken for granted by lime free soil gardeners. For the rest of us, the plants below are best grown in planters containing ericaceous compost, or in the garden in deep man-made pockets of the same stuff. Our plants are grown at our specialist ericaceous nurseries in Surrey.
(Lime-hating subjects are marked LH in the text of catalogue)
TREE
- Liquidambar
- SHRUBS
- CAMELLIA
- KALMIA
- LEUCOTHOE
- SKIMMIA
- CORYLOPSIS
- MAGNOLIA
- ENKIANTHUS
- FOTHERGILLA
- RHODODENDRON
- Inc. AZALEA
- GAULTHERIA
- HAMAMELIS
Plants for poorly drained soils
Poorly drained soils normally mean that for long periods the water content of the soil is very high. But, as always, nature has found a solution and a range of plants have evolved whose root systems are quite content to remain wet. Our list features plants whose ancient forebears would commonly be found in swamps, marshes and along riverbanks.
TREES
- ACER pseudoplatanus
- PYRUS
- ALNUS
- QUERCUS robur
- CARPINUS betulus
- SALIX
- POPULUS
SHRUBS
- CORNUS stolonifera varieties
- SAMBUCUS
- SALIX
CONIFERS
Plants for Moist Sites
Wet sites and even swampy conditions can be successfully and attractively planted. Many British native plants originally grew in just such conditions and are well represented in our list of plants. Dogwood, Willow, Ornamental Elders and Mock Orange will all thrive and give an excellent show. Those suitable for swampy conditions are marked (SS).
TREES
- Acer negundo
- Alnus
- Betula nigra
- Pendula
- Fraxinus excelsior
- Ornus
- Oxycarpa
- ‘Raywood’ var.
- Liriodendron
- Mespilus germanica
- Parrotia
- Salix (SS)
- Sorrbus aucuparia forms
CONIFERS
- Abies E
- Cedrus deodara
- Metasequoia
- Taxodium
SHRUBS
- Amelanchier
- Hydrangea
- Parrotia persica.
- Philadelphus in variety.
- Physocarpus opulifolius
- Rhododendron
- Salix in variety (SS).
- Spiraea in variety.
- Viburnum rhytidophyllum E.
PERENNIALS
- Astilbe
- Lobelia Russian Princess
- Caltha
- Primula in variety
- Hosta
- Scropularia
- Trollius
- Ligularia
Plants for Light Sandy Soils
Sometimes known as ‘nurseryman’s soil’, these soils can be some of the most productive in the country, if properly watered and fertilized. Light sandy soils are quick to warm up in the spring, seldom become waterlogged and are easily worked. Many of the plants listed here are amongst the best we grow in our sandy soil Suffolk nurseries. The secret of success is never to let the soil become too dry and ensure that good levels of plant food are available.
TREES
- Acer campestre
- Cercidyphyllum
- Negundo varieties
- Cercis
- Platanoides
- Eucalyptus
- Ornus
- Pseudoplatanus
- Gleditsia
- Koelreuteria
- Ailanthus
- Populus alba forms
- Alnus cordata
- Betula
- Quercus ilex
- Robinia
- Castanea
SHRUBS
- HYPERICUM
ARTEMISIA arborescens ‘Powis Castle’
- BERBERIS
- MAHONIA aquifolium
- CERATOSTIGMA
- CISTUS
- CLERODENDRUM
- POTENTILLA
- CORTADERIA
- ROMNEYA
- COTONEASTER Prostrate Ground Coverers
- SALVIA
- Low to Medium Growing Varieties
- SAMBUCUS
- CYTISUS
- GENISTA
- SPIRAEA
- HALIMUM
- STEPHANANDRA
- HELICHRYSUM
Aspect
This is the relationship between the garden orientation and the sun. In this section we take a look at the different climatic conditions to be found in the garden. Each garden is a collection of different microenvironments. The most successful gardeners understand these small variations and choose plants best suited for each location. Follow our simple guide and watch the performance of your planting improve.